929 resultados para Free energy calculations
Resumo:
Gabapentin (1-aminomethylcyclohexaneacetic acid, Gpn) is an achiral, conformationally constrained gamma amino acid residue. A survey of available crystal structures of Gpn peptides reveals that the torsion angles about the C-gamma-C-beta (theta(1)) and C-beta-C-alpha(theta(2)) bonds are overwhelmingly limited to gauche, gauche (g(+)g(+)/g(-)g(-)) conformations. The Gpn residue forms C-7 and C-9 hydrogen bonds in which the donor and acceptor atoms come from the flanking peptide units. In combination with alpha amino acid residues alpha gamma and gamma alpha segments can adopt C-12 hydrogen bonded structures. The conformational choices available to the Gpn residue have been probed using energy calculations, adopting a grid search strategy. Ramachandran phi-psi maps have been constructed for fixed values of theta(1) and theta(2), corresponding to the gauche and trans conformations. The sterically allowed and energetically favorable regions of conformational space have been defined and experimental observations compared. C-7 and C-9 hydrogen bonded conformational families have been identified using a grid search approach in which theta(1) and theta(2) values are varied over a range of +/- 10 degrees about ideal values at 1 degrees intervals. The theoretical analysis together with experimental observations for 59 Gpn residues from 35 crystal structures permits definition of the limited range of conformational possibilities at this gamma amino acid residue. .
Resumo:
An analysis of 11 crystal structures of cyclic dipeptides so far reported in the literature is made, with main reference to the internal parameters of these molecules. Preferred conformations of the side chains of cyclic dipeptides with different α-amino acid residues have been studied by classical energy calculations. The possible conformations of the DKP ring are also studied. The significance of the non-bonded interaction in deciding the pathway for conformational change has also been investigated. The agreement between theoretical results and experimental observations is quite good, both with respect to the conformation of these molecules as well as the enthalpy difference as estimated from n.m.r. studies between different conformers.
Resumo:
Sequence specific interaction between DNA and protein molecules has been a subject of active investigation for decades now. Here, we have chosen single promoter containing bacteriophage Delta D-III T7 DNA and Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and followed their recognition at the air-water interface by using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique, where the movement of one of the reacting species is restricted by way of arraying them on an immobilized support. For the Langmuir monolayer studies, we used a RNA polymerase with a histidine tag attached to one of its subunits, thus making it an xcellent substrate for Ni(II) ions, while the SPR Studies were done using biotin-labeled DNA immobilized on a streptavidin-coated chip. Detailed analysis of the thermodynamic parameters as a function of concentration and temperature revealed that the interaction of RNA polymerase with T7 DNA is largely entropy driven (83 (+/- 12) kcal mol(-1)) with a positive enthalpy of 13.6 (+/- 3.6) kcal mol(-1), The free energy of reaction determined by SPR and Langmuir-Blodgett technique was -11 (+/- 2) and -15.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The ability of these methods to retain the specificity of the recognition process was also established.
Resumo:
The rapid increase in genome sequence information has necessitated the annotation of their functional elements, particularly those occurring in the non-coding regions, in the genomic context. Promoter region is the key regulatory region, which enables the gene to be transcribed or repressed, but it is difficult to determine experimentally. Hence an in silico identification of promoters is crucial in order to guide experimental work and to pin point the key region that controls the transcription initiation of a gene. In this analysis, we demonstrate that while the promoter regions are in general less stable than the flanking regions, their average free energy varies depending on the GC composition of the flanking genomic sequence. We have therefore obtained a set of free energy threshold values, for genomic DNA with varying GC content and used them as generic criteria for predicting promoter regions in several microbial genomes, using an in-house developed tool `PromPredict'. On applying it to predict promoter regions corresponding to the 1144 and 612 experimentally validated TSSs in E. coli (50.8% GC) and B. subtilis (43.5% GC) sensitivity of 99% and 95% and precision values of 58% and 60%, respectively, were achieved. For the limited data set of 81 TSSs available for M. tuberculosis (65.6% GC) a sensitivity of 100% and precision of 49% was obtained.
Resumo:
It is known that DNA-binding proteins can slide along the DNA helix while searching for specific binding sites, but their path of motion remains obscure. Do these proteins undergo simple one-dimensional (1D) translational diffusion, or do they rotate to maintain a specific orientation with respect to the DNA helix? We measured 1D diffusion constants as a function of protein size while maintaining the DNA-protein interface. Using bootstrap analysis of single-molecule diffusion data, we compared the results to theoretical predictions for pure translational motion and rotation-coupled sliding along the DNA. The data indicate that DNA-binding proteins undergo rotation-coupled sliding along the DNA helix and can be described by a model of diffusion along the DNA helix on a rugged free-energy landscape. A similar analysis including the 1D diffusion constants of eight proteins of varying size shows that rotation-coupled sliding is a general phenomenon. The average free-energy barrier for sliding along the DNA was 1.1 +/- 0.2 k(B)T. Such small barriers facilitate rapid search for binding sites.
Resumo:
Using a solid-state electrochemical cell incorporating yttria-doped thoria (YDT) as the electrolyte and a mixture of (Mn + MnO) as the reference electrode, standard Gibbs free energy of formation of beta-Ta2O5 has been determined as a function of temperature in the range (1000 to 1300) K. The solid-state electrochemical cell used can be represented as (-)Pt,Ta +Ta2O5//(Y2O3)ThO2//Mn + MnO, Pt(+) Combining the reversible e.m.f. of the cell with recent data on the free energy of formation of MnO, standard Gibbs free energy of formation of Ta2O5 from Ta metal and diatomic oxygen gas (O-2) in the temperature range (1000 to 1300) K is obtained: Delta fG degrees +/- 0.35/(kJ.mol(-1)) = -2004.376 + 0.40445(T/K). Because of the significant solid solubility of oxygen in tantalum, a small correction for the activity of Ta in the metal phase in equilibrium with Ta2O5 is applied. An analysis of the results obtained in this study and other free energy data reported in the literature by the "third law" method suggests the need for refining data for Ta2O5 reported in thermodynamic compilations. Used in the analysis is a revised value for standard entropy of Ta2O5 based on more recent low-temperature heat capacity measurements. An improved set of thermodynamic properties of ditantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) are presented in the temperature range (298.15 to 2200) K. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
P-Nickel hydroxide comprises a long range periodic arrangement of atoms with a stacking sequence of AC AC AC-having an ideal composition Ni(OH)(2). Variation in the preparative conditions can lead to the changes in the stacking sequence (AC AC BA CB AC AC or AC AC AB AC AC) This type of variation in stacking sequence can result in the formation of stacking fault in nickel hydroxide. The stability of the stacking fault depends on the free energy content of the sample. Stacking faults in nickel hydroxide is essential for better electrochemical activity. Also there are reports correlating particle size to the better electrochemical activity. Here we present the effect of crystallite size on the stacking faulted nickel hydroxide samples. The electrochemical performance of stacking faulted nickel hydroxide with small crystallite size exchanges 0.8e/Ni, while the samples with larger crystallite size exchange 0.4e/Ni. Hence a right combination of crystallite size and stacking fault content has to be controlled for good electrochemical activity of nickel hydroxide. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
The standard free energy of formation of titanium boride (TiB2) Was measured by the Electro Motive Force (EMF) method (by using yttria doped thoria (YDT) as the solid electrolyte). Two galvanic cells viz. Cell (I): Pt, TiB2 (s), TiO2 (s), B (s) vertical bar YDT vertical bar NiO (s), Ni (s), Pt and cell (II): Pt, TiB2 (s), TiO2 (s), B (s) vertical bar YDT vertical bar FeO (s). Fe (s), Pt were constructed in order to determine the Delta(f)G degrees, of TiB2. Enthalpy increments on TiB2 were measured by using inverse drop calorimetry over the temperature range 583-1769 K. The heat capacity, entropy and the free energy function have been derived from these experimental data in the temperature range 298-1800 K. The mean value of the standard enthalpy of formation of TiB2 (Delta H-f(298)degrees (TiB2)) was obtained by combining these Delta(f)G degrees, values and the free energy functions of TiB2 derived from the drop calorimetry data. The mean values of Delta H-f(298)degrees (TiB2) derived from the Delta(f)G degrees, data obtained from cell I and II were -322 +/- 1.2 kJ mol(-1) and -323.3 +/- 2.1 kJ mol(-1), respectively. These values were found to be in very good agreement with the assessed data. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
A better understanding of the limiting step in a first order phase transition, the nucleation process, is of major importance to a variety of scientific fields ranging from atmospheric sciences to nanotechnology and even to cosmology. This is due to the fact that in most phase transitions the new phase is separated from the mother phase by a free energy barrier. This barrier is crossed in a process called nucleation. Nowadays it is considered that a significant fraction of all atmospheric particles is produced by vapor-to liquid nucleation. In atmospheric sciences, as well as in other scientific fields, the theoretical treatment of nucleation is mostly based on a theory known as the Classical Nucleation Theory. However, the Classical Nucleation Theory is known to have only a limited success in predicting the rate at which vapor-to-liquid nucleation takes place at given conditions. This thesis studies the unary homogeneous vapor-to-liquid nucleation from a statistical mechanics viewpoint. We apply Monte Carlo simulations of molecular clusters to calculate the free energy barrier separating the vapor and liquid phases and compare our results against the laboratory measurements and Classical Nucleation Theory predictions. According to our results, the work of adding a monomer to a cluster in equilibrium vapour is accurately described by the liquid drop model applied by the Classical Nucleation Theory, once the clusters are larger than some threshold size. The threshold cluster sizes contain only a few or some tens of molecules depending on the interaction potential and temperature. However, the error made in modeling the smallest of clusters as liquid drops results in an erroneous absolute value for the cluster work of formation throughout the size range, as predicted by the McGraw-Laaksonen scaling law. By calculating correction factors to Classical Nucleation Theory predictions for the nucleation barriers of argon and water, we show that the corrected predictions produce nucleation rates that are in good comparison with experiments. For the smallest clusters, the deviation between the simulation results and the liquid drop values are accurately modelled by the low order virial coefficients at modest temperatures and vapour densities, or in other words, in the validity range of the non-interacting cluster theory by Frenkel, Band and Bilj. Our results do not indicate a need for a size dependent replacement free energy correction. The results also indicate that Classical Nucleation Theory predicts the size of the critical cluster correctly. We also presents a new method for the calculation of the equilibrium vapour density, surface tension size dependence and planar surface tension directly from cluster simulations. We also show how the size dependence of the cluster surface tension in equimolar surface is a function of virial coefficients, a result confirmed by our cluster simulations.
Resumo:
The Raman spectrum of cyclohexanol has been studied in detail in the liquid state at 30° C. and at about 68° C. and in the solid state at about 13° C. The O-H stretching frequency of cyclohexanol has been found to extend from 3106-3571 cm.-1 in the liquid state at 30° C. and from 3204-3652 cm.-1 at 68° C. The 38 lines recorded in the present investigation have been following frequency shifts: 342, 408, 458, 478, 555, 653, 789, 834, 843, 863, 887, 920, 966, 978, 1024, 1047, 1070, 1139, 1173, 1184, 1210, 1235, 1252, 1301, 1329, 1346, 1362, 1438, 1448, 1464, 2660, 2684, 2710, 2854, 2896, 2925, 2940, 3106 to 3511 (band). Those lines which are italicized are the additional lines observed for the first time. The Raman lines at 966 cm.-1 and 1070 cm.-1 have been assigned to C-OH stretching vibrations of the axial and equatorial isomers. The ratio of the integrated intensity of the 1070 cm.-1 line to the 966 cm.-1 gave the equilibrium constant K as 2·896 at 30° C. and as 2·66 at 68° C. Knowing K, the free energy different Δ F was calculated and it was found to be 0·64 Kcal./mole at 30° C. and 0·66 Kcal./mole at about 68° C. Reasonable assignment has been made for most of the observed Raman lines.
Resumo:
Isochronal and isothermal ageing experiments have been carried out to determine the influence of 0.01 at. % addition of a second solute on the clustering rate in the quenched Al-4,4 a/o Zn alloy. The influence of quenching and ageing temperatures has been interpreted to obtain the apparent vacancy formation and vacancy migration energies in the various ternary alloys. Using a vacancy-aided clustering model the following values of binding free energy have been evaluated: Ce-0.18; Dy-0.24; Fe-0.18; Li-0.25; Mn-0.27; Nb-0.18; Pt-0.23; Sb-0.21; Si-0.30; Y-0.25; and Yb-0.23 (± 0.02 eV). These binding energy values refer to that between a solute atom and a single vacancy. The values of vacancy migration energy (c. 0.4 eV) and the experimental activation energy for solute diffusion (c. 1.1 eV) are unaffected by the presence of the ternary atoms in the Al-Zn alloy.
Resumo:
The standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation of Co2TiO4, CoTiO3,and CoTi2O5 as a function of temperature over an extended range (900 to 1675) K was measured using solid-state electrochemical cells incorporating yttria-stabilized zirconia as the electrolyte, with CoO as reference electrode and appropriate working electrodes. For the formation of the three compounds from their component oxides CoO with rock-salt and TiO2 with rutile structure, the Gibbs free energy changes are given by:Delta(f)G degrees((ox))(Co2TiO4) +/- 104/(J . mol(-1)) = -18865 - 4.108 (T/K)Delta(f)G degrees((ox))(CoTiO3) +/- 56/(J . mol(-1)) = -19627 + 2.542 (T/K) Delta(f)G degrees((ox))(CoTi2O5) +/- 52/(J . mol(-1)) = -6223 - 6.933 (T/K) Accurate values for enthalpy and entropy of formation were derived. The compounds Co2TiO4 with spinel structure and CoTi2O5 with pseudo-brookite structure were found to be entropy stabilized. The relatively high entropy of these compounds arises from the mixing of cations on specific crystallographic sites. The stoichiometry of CoTiO3 was confirmed by inert gas fusion analysis for oxygen. Because of partial oxidation of cobalt in air, the composition corresponding to the compound Co2TiO4 falls inside a two-phase field containing the spinet solid solution Co2TiO4-Co3O4 and CoTiO3. The spinel solid solution becomes progressively enriched in Co3O4 with decreasing temperature. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
A better understanding of the limiting step in a first order phase transition, the nucleation process, is of major importance to a variety of scientific fields ranging from atmospheric sciences to nanotechnology and even to cosmology. This is due to the fact that in most phase transitions the new phase is separated from the mother phase by a free energy barrier. This barrier is crossed in a process called nucleation. Nowadays it is considered that a significant fraction of all atmospheric particles is produced by vapor-to liquid nucleation. In atmospheric sciences, as well as in other scientific fields, the theoretical treatment of nucleation is mostly based on a theory known as the Classical Nucleation Theory. However, the Classical Nucleation Theory is known to have only a limited success in predicting the rate at which vapor-to-liquid nucleation takes place at given conditions. This thesis studies the unary homogeneous vapor-to-liquid nucleation from a statistical mechanics viewpoint. We apply Monte Carlo simulations of molecular clusters to calculate the free energy barrier separating the vapor and liquid phases and compare our results against the laboratory measurements and Classical Nucleation Theory predictions. According to our results, the work of adding a monomer to a cluster in equilibrium vapour is accurately described by the liquid drop model applied by the Classical Nucleation Theory, once the clusters are larger than some threshold size. The threshold cluster sizes contain only a few or some tens of molecules depending on the interaction potential and temperature. However, the error made in modeling the smallest of clusters as liquid drops results in an erroneous absolute value for the cluster work of formation throughout the size range, as predicted by the McGraw-Laaksonen scaling law. By calculating correction factors to Classical Nucleation Theory predictions for the nucleation barriers of argon and water, we show that the corrected predictions produce nucleation rates that are in good comparison with experiments. For the smallest clusters, the deviation between the simulation results and the liquid drop values are accurately modelled by the low order virial coefficients at modest temperatures and vapour densities, or in other words, in the validity range of the non-interacting cluster theory by Frenkel, Band and Bilj. Our results do not indicate a need for a size dependent replacement free energy correction. The results also indicate that Classical Nucleation Theory predicts the size of the critical cluster correctly. We also presents a new method for the calculation of the equilibrium vapour density, surface tension size dependence and planar surface tension directly from cluster simulations. We also show how the size dependence of the cluster surface tension in equimolar surface is a function of virial coefficients, a result confirmed by our cluster simulations.
Resumo:
Using solid oxide galvanic cells of the type: MnO + Gd2O3 + GdMnO3/O-2/Ni + NiO and Mn3O4 + GdMnO3 + GdMn2O5/O-2/air the equilibrium oxygen pressure for the following reactions :MnO + 1/2Gd(2)O(3) + 1/4O(2) = GdMnO3 1/3Mn(3)O(4) + GdMnO3 + 1/3O(2) = GdMn2O5 was determined in the temperature range from 1073 to 1450 K. From the determined equilibrium oxygen partial pressure the corresponding G i b b s free energy change for these reactions was derived: Delta G(f,GdMnO3)(0) (+/- 425J) 132721(+/ - 2240) +51.91(+/ - 0.81)T Delta G(f,GdMn2O5)(0)(+/- 670J) 121858(+/ - 6176) + 79.52(+/ - 4.83)T From these data, standard G i b b s energies, enthalpies and entropies of formation of GdMnO3 and GdMn2O5 from component oxides and from the elements are derived. Thermodynamic data tables for the two ternary phases are compiled from 298.15 to 1400 K.
Resumo:
An input-output analysis of firewood plantations is attempted in this paper. The inflows from free energy forms, exerted energy forms and non-energy forms, and outflows from energy products, non-energy products and side benefits is evaluated in common energy units (kilocalories). The analysis provides an insight into the performance of these plantations, reveals their defects and suggests ways of improving their productivity.